Gamestop refused to sell me an unopened UT3 Collectors Edition

Volume said:
I've been shopping with Gamestop for quite a while now and never had problems with them such as the ones you've all listed. Every game I've bought there was factory-sealed.

BUT, hearing all this definitely makes me more cautious. Just reading about crap like that is making me angry. I don't know how I'd walk out from a bullshit situation like that without running my hand across their row of games, knocking them down as I walk out screaming obscenities.
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Same here. Gamestops/EBs are only as good as the people who work there. I always hated them, until I found the one I am currently using. The guys there are nice, will go out of their way to give you what you want. If you bring the one of the open "new" games, they will set it aside and get an unopened game for you.
 
when I worked for software etc back in the day, we shrink wrapped opened boxes if someone was going to buy the last copy of a game. Another reason a box could be opened, is because they allow check outs for employees for "product research". I guess its like if someone asks "Hey, how is this game?" the employee should know at least some info on it.

If you seriously need a sealed copy and they dont have any, dont take the last copy. go to another store, its just some shit we have to put up with because of thieves.

just want to throw out there that I havent worked retail for about 6-7 years now and policies may have changed, but thats how it was back in the day.

edit - forgot to add, it makes sense why they didnt let you buy an unopened copy. People made reservations and put money down for their copies. Their copies are immediately set aside with tickets placed onto them with their names, hence "their copies". So they must have had some remaining amount that they were able to sell to customers, they opened a copy for the display on the floor and you just so happened to try and buy the last copy.

IMO, quit bitchnig.
 
vage said:
I usually knock something over on my way out if a store gives me bullshit like that. I would much rather get my games from Target.
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isnt that what my 6 yr old does when she's angry..??? throws a tantrum? :rolleyes:

and i grab her up and make her put it back too when it does happen, i am breaking her of that real quick so she doesnt grow up to be like you
 
qbert3 said:
when I worked for software etc back in the day, we shrink wrapped opened boxes if someone was going to buy the last copy of a game. Another reason a box could be opened, is because they allow check outs for employees for "product research". I guess its like if someone asks "Hey, how is this game?" the employee should know at least some info on it.

If you seriously need a sealed copy and they dont have any, dont take the last copy. go to another store, its just some shit we have to put up with because of thieves.

just want to throw out there that I havent worked retail for about 6-7 years now and policies may have changed, but thats how it was back in the day.

IMO, quit bitchnig.
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Those particular policies are exactly the same.


People ask Gamestop employees all the time about the most obscure shit and expect them to know absolutely everything instantly, so yes, the employees should have some sort of way to play these games, and no, on the pay Gamestop gives for the amount Gamestop expects its employees to actually know, it is not fair to expect them to pay for every single game. There were 20 releases on Nov. 14th. Gamestop and customers expected the lowest position employee to know them all. They barely pay above minimum wage for that position. Even if they spent every cent they had on games, they could not get all those games. What Gamestop does have is a four day borrowing policy for all employees for any game that's not low in stock, however during the holiday season (i.e. right now), it is completely cut off until after New Year's.
 
Neurofreeze said:
Those particular policies are exactly the same. People ask Gamestop employees all the time about the most obscure shit and expect them to know absolutely everything instantly, so yes, the employees should have some sort of way to play these games, and no, on the pay Gamestop gives for the amount Gamestop expects its employees to actually know, it is not fair to expect them to pay for every single game. There were 20 releases on Nov. 14th. Gamestop and customers expected the lowest position employee to know them all. They barely pay above minimum wage for that position. Even if they spent every cent they had on games, they could not get all those games.
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when I worked at software etc, even with my discount I could barely afford a single game per month. I lived with my parents at the time, but food and gas alone took a high portion of my check. The only reason I worked there was because I wanted to be able to check out games.
 
not to be off topic or anything, but... HOLY S%&T! UT 3 is out!?!? :eek:

TOO. MANY. GAMES!!!!
 
Yah take that guys advice and " quit bitching "... :rolleyes:

Its a much better approach to not complain when something like this happens, just bow your head, say, " yes sir, sorry sir " and leave the store walking backwards bowing in excess...

I wouldn't consider even touching a game from a store where they open the new games and remove the contents, especially when they don't give the customer a discount.

Yeah I know all about theft and people stealing, but to put all your trust into some punk ass kid working the counter to remove the content and NOT write down CD keys, lift special edition items, or scratch the CD/DVDs in the process is expecting way too much of a smart consumer ... They expect the consumer to understand because they have to combat theft, yet we have no right to complain when we cannot trust the people working there... like every employee of these stores is a fucking angel on earth...

I can't believe these places still operate with such policies and yet still somehow stay in buisness... :confused:
 
ojax said:
Yeah I know all about theft and people stealing, but to put all your trust into some punk ass kid working the counter to remove the content and NOT write down CD keys, lift special edition items, or scratch the CD/DVDs in the process is expecting way too much of a smart consumer ... They expect the consumer to understand because they have to combat theft, yet we have no right to complain when we cannot trust the people working there... like every employee of these stores is a fucking angel on earth...
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No, actually you don't seem to know anything. You see, if an employee does break rules like that, they should be fired, while a customer like you can knock over a display case "accidentally" and guess what? It's that "punk ass kid" who has to bow his head and smile at you and say, "Have a good day, sir." There is far more reason for retail employees not to trust the customer than for you, the customer, not to trust the retail employees. It is their paycheck on the line, not yours.

The amount of bad employees that keep their job long enough to do shady things like that is rather small, while the amount of asshole, inconsiderate customers is enormous. There are more assholes that walk into a store acting like they own the place just because they want to buy a single game in a single day than there are bad apples in an entire holiday season's worth of holiday hire employees.
 
Neurofreeze said:
The amount of bad employees that keep their job long enough to do shady things like that is rather small, while the amount of asshole, inconsiderate customers is enormous. There are more assholes that walk into a store acting like they own the place just because they want to buy a single game in a single day than there are bad apples in an entire holiday season's worth of holiday hire employees.
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I never got all the details, but the manager of the local EB store was fired for some shady dealing surrounding the PS3 reservations. ( I think he may have been caught selling them on ebay )
 
buy your games online if you really dont feel like putting up with this crap. I'll agree that it sucks, but theres no way around it. You want them to make fake boxes of each game so they can display it on the floor for everyone to look at?

I think that their current way and policies of handling the problem is reasonable. In this situation, you cant make everyone happy.
 
Circuit City usually has new games on sale. I can't remember the last time I bought a game at EB/Gamestop.
 
Don't use GS much but I bought COD4 and SMG both new a couple of weeks ago and they were both unopened.

Not that I am defending GS, but this probably varies from store to store, the GS in Sherwood has some pretty nice employees.
 
Neurofreeze said:
No, actually you don't seem to know anything. You see, if an employee does break rules like that, they should be fired, while a customer like you can knock over a display case "accidentally" and guess what? It's that "punk ass kid" who has to bow his head and smile at you and say, "Have a good day, sir." There is far more reason for retail employees not to trust the customer than for you, the customer, not to trust the retail employees. It is their paycheck on the line, not yours.

The amount of bad employees that keep their job long enough to do shady things like that is rather small, while the amount of asshole, inconsiderate customers is enormous. There are more assholes that walk into a store acting like they own the place just because they want to buy a single game in a single day than there are bad apples in an entire holiday season's worth of holiday hire employees.
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NO again I'm right. The fact is you cannot trust the people working behind the counter to OPEN FUCKING MERCHANDISE and expect things to be fine, because its hardly THEM and more the CUSTOMER.... Thats an unreasonable scenario, which is why I disagree...

They should be fired??? Do you think they are doing these shady things IN PLAIN SIGHT of the managers or owners?? lmfao!! YES they should be fired, but if you didn't know who to blame, who do you punish??

Also I never said I would knock shit over, that wasn't MY option for retaliation... :rolleyes:

There paycheck is fucking tiny, its almost always a minimum wage job, not some well paid, high benefit, career job, so the risk is well worth their reward in many cases, and thats why I DO NOT trust them... Why do you think statistics show that most low paying, retail job positions are lost because of mis-trust and / or theft ??

I also don't expect them to make paper cut-out boxes to put on the shelf either, but does nobody have an imagination ?? What about keeping them behind the counter?? What about putting them behind glass?? What about having displaying them somewhere more visable?? There are sooooo many more options then opening the box and taking out the guts, and if you think its a "reasonable" option, you obviously haven't been thinking very hard.

Also I'm perfectly aware of how customers have a sense of entitlement, as I have worked retail in music stores, and video / game stores, but it doesn't mean the only option is to open up brand new games, touch and tamper with the customers sensitive serials and content JUST BECAUSE you cannot trust a customer... I'm sorry, but if this was the only way, why do the majority of video / computer game retailers keep their fucking boxes sealed??

My sarcastic tone about bowing to them was said because people think you should just swallow the pill people give you, because you have no room to complain. Just like their fucking paycheck is on the line, MY HARD EARNED $$$$ is also on the line, and if I, as a customer, feel slighted or wronged, I have every right to complain, no matter how much the poor kid behind the counter doesn't want to deal with it.

/thread.
 
Employees steal more from stores than customers. Also have you have ever heard of customers using a credit card reader to steal employees credit card numbers? No! It's always the other way around.
 
the reason management wanted you to buy the opened copy was so that they wouldn t have to go through the same scenario with the next guy who came in for UT3. Once all the shit copies are gone they can start selling the pristine ones.

I bought UT3 at bestbuy. They had none on the shelf but they fixed that after I let them know and they even looked up available stock on 8800 GT's while I waited. The store was full of trainees (white shirts) so the whole experience was educational for them.
 
BladeVenom said:
Employees steal more from stores than customers. Also have you have ever heard of customers using a credit card reader to steal employees credit card numbers? No! It's always the other way around.
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Yeah, I was going to say - what retail chain, EXACTLY, do you work for where customers are the #1 thief?

I have a very large number of friends who were (are still, in some cases) in retail management, and are familiar with the 'shrink' numbers. In every chain I thus have knowledge of the statistics of - granted, only in clothing (no electronics, but I bet it's as bad if not worse) - "employee shrink" is estimated at about twice the loss from grab-and-runs or shoplifting.

For those not in retail - check out a mall store some time when shifts are changing. Why do you think someone is at the door checking the bags/purses/etc of the leaving employees?
 
ojax said:
NO again I'm right. The fact is you cannot trust the people working behind the counter to OPEN FUCKING MERCHANDISE and expect things to be fine, because its hardly THEM and more the CUSTOMER.... Thats an unreasonable scenario, which is why I disagree...

They should be fired??? Do you think they are doing these shady things IN PLAIN SIGHT of the managers or owners?? lmfao!! YES they should be fired, but if you didn't know who to blame, who do you punish??

Also I never said I would knock shit over, that wasn't MY option for retaliation... :rolleyes:

There paycheck is fucking tiny, its almost always a minimum wage job, not some well paid, high benefit, career job, so the risk is well worth their reward in many cases, and thats why I DO NOT trust them... Why do you think statistics show that most low paying, retail job positions are lost because of mis-trust and / or theft ??

I also don't expect them to make paper cut-out boxes to put on the shelf either, but does nobody have an imagination ?? What about keeping them behind the counter?? What about putting them behind glass?? What about having displaying them somewhere more visable?? There are sooooo many more options then opening the box and taking out the guts, and if you think its a "reasonable" option, you obviously haven't been thinking very hard.

Also I'm perfectly aware of how customers have a sense of entitlement, as I have worked retail in music stores, and video / game stores, but it doesn't mean the only option is to open up brand new games, touch and tamper with the customers sensitive serials and content JUST BECAUSE you cannot trust a customer... I'm sorry, but if this was the only way, why do the majority of video / computer game retailers keep their fucking boxes sealed??

My sarcastic tone about bowing to them was said because people think you should just swallow the pill people give you, because you have no room to complain. Just like their fucking paycheck is on the line, MY HARD EARNED $$$$ is also on the line, and if I, as a customer, feel slighted or wronged, I have every right to complain, no matter how much the poor kid behind the counter doesn't want to deal with it.

/thread.
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so your entire arguement on this subject is that "people" are the problem.

doesnt that go with every other business? i'm trying to show you the process of what they do is completely reasonable, if you want to complain go ahead. I think your wasting your time complaining, come up with a different way to purchase your games or come up with a brilliant scheme to change gamestop, because apparently in your head, they listen.
 
I'm too lazy to read the whole thread but yeah Gamestop sucks and should be avoided if possible. They're not someone I would want to give my money to.
 
Simple solution to the PC game boxes issue is to have just flat board sleeves showing the game box and thats it , have it ship with each distro to a store. They meanwhile have the copies in the back on a stock shelf (considering they dont stock many PC games to begin with it wont take any room).

Not really a hard solution gamestop. If you guys dont like what they consider policy go file a complaint online to the DM or goto another store.. going to another store hurts them more than anything if thats what your after.
 
Martyr said:
flip him the bird, grab a handful of merch, and bolt.
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dderidex said:
Yeah, I was going to say - what retail chain, EXACTLY, do you work for where customers are the #1 thief?

I have a very large number of friends who were (are still, in some cases) in retail management, and are familiar with the 'shrink' numbers. In every chain I thus have knowledge of the statistics of - granted, only in clothing (no electronics, but I bet it's as bad if not worse) - "employee shrink" is estimated at about twice the loss from grab-and-runs or shoplifting.

For those not in retail - check out a mall store some time when shifts are changing. Why do you think someone is at the door checking the bags/purses/etc of the leaving employees?
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When I was at BB the other day buying Crysis,there was someone doing just that,it was an eye opener.
 
There are many other big-box retailers who would love to have your business. I never agreed with Gamestop's policy of opening some stuff.
 
ScYcS said:
I'm a smoker. Instead of boiling over, i lit a cigarette at the counter and walked out never to return. Lost $19.99 but had instant gratification.
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i dont smoke cigs but i would definitely do this. win.
 
I had an issue with Toca4 when it first game out

bought it from EB, the day it came out, got home, no key, kittah wasn't impressed...called them up, and he told me to come in, went in there, he checked the other opened boxes...no keys, he called another store for me, and told them my situation and they told me to go...so I drove to another store, and they didnt have the keys either...

turns out the game had shipped without the key (shipping error which was corrected)...but having said that, they were very very helpful, moreso then I would of thought...

but at the same time, I wont buy a game from there again...I hated the fact that someone other then me got to open my copy...totally drove me nuts

BB/Walmart gets my business...price is the same, but I get to unvirginize every game I buy :D
 
qbert3 said:
so your entire arguement on this subject is that "people" are the problem.

doesnt that go with every other business? i'm trying to show you the process of what they do is completely reasonable, if you want to complain go ahead. I think your wasting your time complaining, come up with a different way to purchase your games or come up with a brilliant scheme to change gamestop, because apparently in your head, they listen.
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Why do the people with absolute ignorance and passive consumerism quote me ??? I wasn't complaining as much as I was informing others that its NOT OK to accept brand new software that has been opened prior to purchasing. I don't care if a fucking ROBOT opened the box and dumped out the contents with his little hydraulic arm, the sensitive info inside is compromised and therefore its buyer beware... Add to the fact what I said about retail clerks and you have a very shitty deal.

My brilliant scheme is to avoid GS and tell others why... In my head I'm laughing at you, so whatever... :rolleyes:

You are trying to show me that the process of what they do is "completely reasonable" ?? I know a ton of gamers that would go fucking nuts if someone else opened their game before THEY got too... Oh look like the guy above me... If "what they do" was "completely reasonable", then why do many think that letting the retailer open their game first is "completely UNreasonable" ? In YOUR head it must fucking echo.... :)
 
talk about taking it a step too far.

and next time, reserve the game, douche.
 
qbert3 said:
talk about taking it a step too far.

and next time, reserve the game, douche.
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so, if i want unopened products, i must reserve them? should i reserve my cereal at the grocery store if i dont want it opened and the prize removed?
 
Gamestop in my area only has unopened boxed PC games on display. *shrug*
 
Dude, this happen to me a few times at my local EB Store. I don't deal with them as much anymore unless it's a preorder.
 
Thanks for all the feedback so far everyone. Glad to know I am not the only one that this shady stuff has happened too while shopping there.
Also glad to know it varies from store to store, and that I can focus my frustration on the douchebag manager with a bad attitude...
I have to go back there tomorrow and return one of the unopened copies because one of the people I bought it for changed his mind.
I think the manager will be getting a piece of my mind this time around, as I will not be so passive now that I know he is full of it and lied to my face.
 
ScYcS said:
????????? Hello? They SELL the games OPENED already. Then they better also take them back that way.
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ithink they do this as i know EB Gamesa asks :"for $3 more we will replace the disk for 2 years no matter how damgaed it gets"

another way for them to scam you, they open it, soyou then buy the "insurance" you dont need so you can return a product they opened.
 
Converge said:
Damn, they're lucky you were so nice about it. If that happened to me their store would be in pieces and the cops would probably have ended up getting called. I just dont put up with people's bullshit anymore, you apparently have very good self control.
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Hahahah, you're so full of shit.
 
So much misinformation is this thread But hey, it's cool to hate gamestop.
 
I worked for Game in the UK for roughly 2 and a half years, so I can clear a bit of stuff up. Game are basically the UK equivalent of Gamestop/EBGames. So a hell of a lot of policies and the like are the same.

As far as I'm aware, employees are not allowed to loan games under any circumstances. It was different years ago, but now, all display copies are "gutted" are the "guts" kept in a locked drawer. All games are sealed with a sticker when purchased, even shrinkwrapped ones, and the only way you can return them is if that sticker is still intact. Of course, if the game is faulty (scratched disc or the like) then you can return it as per consumer law.

Obviously they don't put out new shrinkwrapped games on the shopfloor, as stock losses would be astronomical. The reason employees are the major source of theft is because they have this policy. If they didn't, then the balance would be heavily against the customer. We had a "customer" who would steal security tagged pre-owned PS1 games, and this was about a year and a half ago. That just goes to prove that some people will steal anything, regardless of value. The only reason these where on the shop floor was because they were such low value, and pretty crappy games anyway.

I honestly don't understand why people whinge about wanting a shrinkwrapped copy. Stores have to display the game in order to actually sell it, and the worst type of people are those who understand nothing about stock control. You really want a shrinkwrapped copy of "Generic Japanese Fantasy RPG 14"? Tough, the store will only ever get 2 copies in, and they have to be on the shelves so people will know it's actually available.

It's almost like you don't understand about your rights as a consumer. Say you do buy a copy that is in a open box, and it is scratched. You take it back to the store, and the manager wont exchange or refund it. Instead of throwing a hissyfit, ring the customer service helpline. They will honestly bend over backwards, time and time again just to make sure that you're happy. They'll tell you to go back into the store, and the manager will have had a phonecall from his regional manager and he'll gladly exchange it. Use your brain, instead of your mouth.

Of course, I may be a bit biased, due to the fact that I'm an ex-employee, but I still have friends that work there, and to be honest, we never had these problems when I worked there. A lot of it is down to management, and because they pay such poor wages they get poor managers. I was fortunate, because I had 2 fantastic managers during my time, and they both taught me a hell of a lot about sales and customer service.

If anyones interested, I could do a topic with some of my tales from working there.
 
I agree that for the workers, and at a benefit to gamestop to have the employees have information to answer questions, they should be able to check out games. Problem with that is allowing new releases to be checked out, opened, returned, and sold at new is at the cost of the consumer, not Gamestop. They should designate a few copies for an internal library, or borrow from the used section.
I have no problem if they open a new copy, but when it's returned sell it in the USED section. They have no problem selling a used copy to me for 5$ less than retail, so I don't see why they have a big issue with it themselves.
If it's not valuable for gamestop to have employees educated, and not cost effective for the employee to buy it, then don't offer this service at a cost to the consumer.
I know it's one of the few perks for a crappy job, but this perk costs nothing for gamestop. Which it should if they value the service.
 
Martyr said:
so, if i want unopened products, i must reserve them? should i reserve my cereal at the grocery store if i dont want it opened and the prize removed?
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Pretty sure at this point you should just put the box back? you'd be an idiot to take an open box of cereal and like i've said before GO TO ANOTHER STORE! or buy online, they will not change their ways.

I would buy my games online, but there is a decent gamestop near me and I dont feel like waiting 2-3 days for my game. They didnt wait 2-3 days for their money..

if you truely feel jipped and you've already tried talking to the store manager, take it up with the district manager of your gamestop. cant gaurentee it will do a whole lot.
 
I'm glat that I'm not the only one who has gripes about the way Gamestop does business. I won't pre-order anymore, since the Target near my work always has games in stock the day of release.
 
lgestle said:
I agree that for the workers, and at a benefit to gamestop to have the employees have information to answer questions, they should be able to check out games. Problem with that is allowing new releases to be checked out, opened, returned, and sold at new is at the cost of the consumer, not Gamestop. They should designate a few copies for an internal library, or borrow from the used section.
I have no problem if they open a new copy, but when it's returned sell it in the USED section. They have no problem selling a used copy to me for 5$ less than retail, so I don't see why they have a big issue with it themselves.
If it's not valuable for gamestop to have employees educated, and not cost effective for the employee to buy it, then don't offer this service at a cost to the consumer.
I know it's one of the few perks for a crappy job, but this perk costs nothing for gamestop. Which it should if they value the service.
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i'll break it down for you how it worked for me. I'm not saying anyone is breaking these rules, but this is how it worked for me.

  • You can check out any game regardless of platform, but it cannot be a new release or a game that requires you to register/consume a cdkey before playing such as an MMO.
  • If you bring the game back and it has missing content or any type of damage done to the product such as a scratched disc (which the store manager/ assistant manager/ etc would verify) this would completely suspend your privileges indenfinitely. This would also leave a hefty markdown on your raise.
  • The game would then be shrink wrapped and placed back with the other new games.
 
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